How to Choose a Knife for Everyday Carry

When it comes to choosing an Everyday Carry (EDC) pocket knife, the kind you decide to buy will ultimately be based on how you’ll use the knife most. You'll want a quality knife, of course, but you'll also want to consider the following.  

Price

The first thing many people look at is how much they’re willing to spend on a knife. While you can certainly spend hundreds of dollars on your EDC, you can also find some great knives in the $20 to $50 range.
 

Size & Weight

Your EDC will go with you just about everywhere, so you’ll want to make sure it’s size and weight are comfortable to you. Generally, a blade of less than 4 inches and an overall weight of 6 ounces or less should be comfortable.

Fixed Blade or Folding Knife

This is actually a fairly easy decision. If you’re looking for something with maximum strength, then you’ll want a fixed blade knife (and most likely a full tang one at that). On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more compact and lightweight to handle simple tasks, go with a folding knife.

Lock Type

Three of the most common lock types you’ll find on folding knives are:

1. Liner lock: When opened, the liner gets moved from the side of the interior toward the center. It stops just under the tang of the blade, and locks the blade into place. This lock can be disengaged with one hand.
2. Slip Joint: With a slip joint the blade technically doesn’t “lock” into place. It is, however, held in place by a spring device that will allow the blade to fold when enough pressure is applied.
3. Lockback: The lockback has a lever on the back of the handle that catches a notch at the end of the blade’s tang and locks it into place. Pushing on the lever unlocks the blade and allows the knife to be closed.

Straight or Serrated Blade

Serrated blades are great for cutting through tough materials like rope and drywall. However, if you work in an office you’ll probably be using your knife more on tasks like opening packages, in which case a straight blade might be preferred. Keep in mind that straight blades are also easier to sharpen.

Regardless of which type of EDC knife you choose, remember to spend time getting to know it. Get comfortable with how it feels in your hand. Try it out on different tasks. Practice opening and closing it. Your new knife is going to become a part of your everyday life so the more comfortable you are with it; the more useful it will be to you.